Washing machine



Feb. 11, 1969 'GQEVANS ETAL 3,426,771

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1967 Sheet of 2 l NV E N TORS GFOVEP C. EVA/V5 77/04/4514 EMA/V5 ATTORNEYS G. C. EVANS ET AL Feb. 11, 1969 WASHING MACHINE Sheet Filed April 18, 1967 mvem'cns GROVE? 0. EVA N5 M04445 1 EVA/V5 5v 5? c a a R W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for washing bottle-holding containers, the machine being housed in a cabinet with a reservoir for a cleaning liquid in the lower portion of the cabinet, and guide rails in the upper part of the cabinet for supporting the containers. A pump moves the heated liquid to nozzles which spray the liquid on the containers as they pass along the guide rails.

Background of the invention In recent years, the soft drink and dairy industries have increasingly used plastic containers to replace the old Wooden and cardboard cases. The Wooden and cardboard containers, with their vertical interior partitions, accumulate dirt, debris, torn bottle labels, etc. However, it is impractical to clean these old containers because the wood is generally soft and becomes permeated with d1rt, and the cardboard deteriorates when soaked in water and loses its strength. It is, therefore, impossible to keep these old containers clean and sanitary.

The new plastic containers may be washed clean after each use and kept in a presentable sanitary condition.

Machines for washing containers and the like are old and well known. These machines generally involve a conveyor or guide rails for moving the containers through the upper portion of a cabinet where the containers are subjected to a cleansing spray emitting from the nozzles.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a washing machine cabinet with a cover which may be readily opened for access to the interior of the cabinet for inspection and the making of repairs, this cover also maintaining and supporting headers, tubes and nozzles for spraying and washing containers moving through the cabinet.

Brief description 0 drawing FIGURE 1 is a horizontal longitudinal section of the machine taken along the line 11 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical end section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the header and tubes and a portion of the supports therefor, positioned in the cover or lid of the cabinet; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the end portion of the guide rails where the cartons exit from the machine; this end of the guide rails being at the extreme left of FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2.

Description of the preferred embodiment The machine shown in the drawing includes a housing supported upon suitable legs 12. In the lower section of the housing is a reservoir 14 for holding water or other cleaning solution. Also, within the lower section of the housing and adjacent the reservoir is a sealed combustion chamber 16. Within the combustion chamber is a conventional burner element (not shown) fired by gas or 3,426,771 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 oil. Suitable connections (not shown) are provided for connecting the burner to a gas or oil supply.

A plurality of fiues 18 extend from the upper portion of the combustion chamber through the liquid in the reservoir to an outside vent 20 (FIGURE 1) on the rear side of the housing. These flues serve as heat exchangers to heat the water or cleaning solution in the reservoir. A pump generally indicated at 22 (FIGURE 2) is provided to pump the liquid from the reservoir through the conduit pipe 24 to the manifold or header 26. The manifold 26 is supported on horizontal shelf 28 in the upper portion of the housing by means of brackets 30. The shelf 28 forms the top of the reservoir. The center portion of the shelf 28 is in the form of a horizontal meshed strainer element 32 which strains and cleans the liquid returning to the reservoir, as will be later explained.

Connected to and extending horizontally from the header 26 are tubes 34 which contain, at intervals along their lengths, a series of nozzles or sprays 35 through which water or cleaning solution is forced upwardly.

Flexible hose 36 connects header 26 to a second header 38 positioned in the hinged cover 40 of the housing. The cover 40 is conventionally hinged as shown in FIGURE 3. A support bar 42 is hinged to the upper section of the housing so that it may be raised to support the cover in its uplifted position. The raising of the cover gives easy and quick access to the interior of the housing for repairs, inspection, cleaning and the like.

The header 38 has extending substantially horizontally from it a series of tubes 44, each tube on its underside having a series of jet nozzles 46 through which the cleaning solution is forced downwardly.

Extending horizontally between the lower tubes 34 and the upper tubes 44 are a series of endless belts 48 which form a conveyor for the cases, cartons and trays to "be cleaned. The endless belts 48 are supported and driven by shafts and sprockets indicated at 50. The shafts and sprockets 50 may be driven by a conventional motor and gear train or belt arrangement (not shown).

Interspersing the endless conveyor 48 are guide rails 52. Side rails 54 are positioned along each side of the conveyor path and above the conveyor bed. These side rails 54 serve to keep the cases and cartons on the bed of the conveyor as they move along. At the exit (left) end of the conveyor (see FIGURE 2) the guide rails 52 have a raised section, indicated generally at 56 (FIGURE 2) adjacent the end of the conveyor belts 48. This upwardly curved portion 56 causes the cartons and trays as they emerge from the spray to be tilted fore and aft. This tilting increases drainage of all water from the interior of the cartons and cases.

Flat cases of the type which are generally used to hold 24 soft drink bottles are indicated in FIGURE 2 in the drawing by the letter A. Cartons which are normally used to hold 6 soft drink or beer cans or bottles are indicated by B in FIGURE 2. The cases and cartons when made of plastic generally have small holes bored in the bottom of each divided section or pocket so that water or a cleaning solution will drain therethrough carrying dirt, debris, etc.

In view of the carrying height of the cases A and cartons B, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, it is desirable to elevate and lower the upper tubes 44. By raising and lowering these tubes, the jet nozzles may be placed close to the top of the cartons or cases being cleaned and the most effective spray obtained. For example, if only cases indicated at A in FIGURE 2 are being cleaned, it would obviously be desirable to lower the tubes 44. On the other hand, in cleaning cartons such as indicated in B, it is necessary to raise the tubes 44 in order to obtain the necessary clearance. In order to accomplish this result we provide brackets which include flat-faced arms 58 and 60 which are fixed to the underside of the cover 40 and extend downwardly therefrom (see FIGURE 4). The arms 58 depending from the cover have vertical slots 66 through which extend thumb screws 68 (see FIGURE 4) These thumb screws enter screw openings in the mating vertical sections of straps 62 holding the outboard tubes. The straps are supported and connected by suitable frame work 63. By adjusting the position of the thumb screws 68 in the slots, the tubes 44 may be positioned at the desired height above the conveyor belts 48. The flexible tube 36 allows the header 38 to be moved up and down with the tubes 44. Suitable supporting frame work 64 (see FIGURE 4) is provided to support and strengthen the arms 58.

In operation, the height of the tubes 44 is adjusted by the operator to the desired height above the cartons to be washed. The cartons are fed into the conveyor from the right side of the machine as viewed in FIGURE 2. The motor driving the conveyor is started; the liquid in the reservoir, having been heated to a suitable temperature by the heating means indicated at 16, is moved by the pump 22 through the pipe 24 to the header 26, and through flexible tube 36 to header 38. From these headers the cleaning solution or water moves through tubes 34 and 44 and out through jet nozzles 35 and 46. The liquid emitting from these nozzles is forced against and into the cases and cartons. The liquid draining from the cartons and cases is collected on shelf 28 and passes through strainers back into the reservoir 14 where it is reheated and circulated by means of pump 22.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for washing containers comprising:

(1) a housing,

(2) a hinged cover for said housing,

( 3) a reservoir in the lower portion of said housing,

. for holding a cleaning liquid,

(4) guide rails for supporting containers above said reservoir,

(5) a plurality of tubes located above and below said guide rails, each of said tubes carrying nozzles therein,

(6) means for pumping said liquid from said reservoir through said nozzles to force the liquid against containers on the guide rails,

(7) a bracket fixed to said cover for supporting the upper tubes, said bracket being adjustable so that the said upper tubes may be raised and lowered.

2. A machine for washing containers comprising:

(1) a housing,

(2) a hinged cover for said housing,

(3) a reservoir in the lower portion of said housing for holding a cleaning liquid,

(4) an endless conveyor for moving containers above said reservoir,

(5) headers positioned above and below said conveyor,

(6) a plurality of tubes extending substantially horizontally from each of said headers, each of said tubes having a series of nozzles therein,

(7) a flexible hose connecitng said headers,

(8) pump means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir through said headers and tubes to force the liquid through said nozzles against the containers in jet streams as the containers are moved above said reservoir, and

(9) a bracket fixed to said cover for supporting said upper header and tubes, said bracket being adjustable in height so that said header and tubes may be raised and lowered.

3. A machine for washing containers comprising:

(1) ahousing,

(2) a hinged cover for said housing,

(3) a reservoir in the lower portion of said housing for holding a cleaning liquid,

(4) an endless conveyor for moving containers above said reservoir,

(5) headers positioned above and below said conveyor,

(6) a plurality of tubes extending substantially horizontally from each of said headers, each of said tubes having a series of nozzles therein,

(7) a flexible hose connecting said headers,

(8) pump means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir, through said headers and tubes to force the liquid through said nozzles against the containers in jet streams as the containers are moved above said reservoir,

(9) a bracket fixed to said cover for supporting said upper header and tubes, said bracket being adjustable in height so that said header and tubes may be raised and lowered, and

(10) means for collecting and straining the liquid as it flows from the containers and returning it to said reservoir.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,704 12/1913 Lilleberg 134-172 1,142,187 6/1915 McGrath 134111 1,798,428 3/1931 Lindgren 134129 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 696,160 9/ 1940 Germany.

ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

